The World Bank-supported Southwest Indian Ocean Risk Assessment and Financing Initiative (SWIO RAFI) was launched recently, during the fifth Regional Platform for Risk Transfer Mechanisms, with the purpose... Show More + of focusing on improving the understanding of available disaster risk and risk financing solutions, such as insurance or contingent credit.The initiative complements the advancing work of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) to reduce the vulnerability to natural disasters in conjunction with strategies of the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (SIDS). It is being executed with financial support from the European Union in the framework of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States Natural Disaster Risk Reduction Program, which is managed by the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR). The GFDRR disaster risk financing and insurance experts also advise on increasing financial resilience to natural disasters.“A project of this nature Show Less -

PORT-LOUIS, April 28, 2014 - The Southwest Indian Ocean Risk Assessment and Financing Initiative (SWIO RAFI) will be launched during the fifth Regional Platform for Risk Transfer Mechanisms... Show More + (April 28-30), hosted by the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC).The SWIO RAFI seeks to address high vulnerability of the Southwest Indian Ocean Island States to disaster losses from catastrophes such as cyclones, floods, earthquakes and tsunamis. These threats are exacerbated by the effects of climate change, a growing population and increased economic impacts. The initiative will provide a solid basis for the future implementation of disaster risk financing by improving the understanding of disaster risks and risk financing solutions of participating island nations.“Implementing the SWIO RAFI will not only improve the understanding within these Island States, but will also help to predict future risks. As an ongoing initiative, the goal is to consistently reduce the exposure to such haz Show Less -

The technology is especially useful in areas where conflicts, strife, or wars make it difficult to gather data, and it can provide wide-scale observations that cross country borders. A single satellite... Show More + pass can take a high definition image of the entire Mozambique Channel in a matter of seconds. “One of the most difficult tasks facing developing countries is how to monitor large areas with limited resources,” said Zoubida Allaoua, a director in the Bank’s Sustainable Development Network. “The use of satellite technology in our work is ground breaking in its ability to track information across hundreds of thousands of kilometers, in a manner that’s highly reliable and cost effective but not intrusive.”The partnership’s maritime surveillance system, designed for countries of the Mozambique Channel, detected 38 oil spills over a five-month period, providing authorities with enough real-time information to investigate suspected polluters.In São Tome and Principe, eoworld mapping activ Show Less -